It’s only January 8, but already we can be pretty certain we won’t be winning the Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase or World Hurdle at Cheltenham!

OKAY, the dust has settled and all the Christmas racing and early New Year stuff is now firmly behind us - so what have we learned?

We’ve certainly had confirmation that we are unlikely to be carrying off any of the major prizes at Cheltenham come March.

Of course there will be plenty of people saying Cheltenham isn’t everything and that there are lots of goodies on offer between now and then and subsequently at Aintree, Fairyhouse and Punchestown.